By: Sarah Mitchell

“You don’t need a hardware overhaul to unlock a better revenue stream. You just need the right software.” Dan Roland, Co-Founder at Katalyst, emphasizes the importance of working efficiently. In the food and beverage industry, working smarter often involves utilizing the right tools. Currently, restaurant owners face significant pressure. Between rising food costs, labor challenges, and tighter margins, growing a profitable operation has become increasingly complex. But what if the valuable growth opportunity wasn’t necessarily in your dining room? This is where Katalyst steps in. Katalyst is helping operators tap into off-premise income, especially high-margin catering, without requiring them to make drastic changes. No need to buy new devices, change payment processors, or overhaul existing systems. With Katalyst, everything is handled digitally. No new terminals. No complexity. Just additional revenue streams ready to be accessed. That’s right. For many in the industry, Katalyst provides a helpful tool for growth.

The Catering Revenue Many Restaurants Could Be Missing

Catering isn’t just for weddings or graduations anymore. Today, corporate buyers, training departments, real estate offices, and medical representatives are placing large, recurring food orders every week. But many restaurants aren’t even participating in this opportunity. “Catering can be an effective way to grow revenue without overburdening your floor staff,” Roland explains. “Yet many restaurants either overlook it or treat it as a secondary priority.” One significant reason for this is that owners often assume catering requires expensive hardware upgrades or a complete change to their point-of-sale system. Katalyst was designed to address this challenge.

No Devices, No Delay; Just a Simple Catering Switch

Unlike traditional restaurant software, Katalyst allows operators to launch a catering operation without needing any new hardware. No printers. No touchscreens. No encrypted terminals. Everything is cloud-based and managed through a simple web login. Operators can run catering as a standalone module or integrate it alongside their existing tech stack. “We wanted it to be plug-and-play. If all you need is catering, that’s all you pay for,” explains Cole Dillon, Co-Founder and CXO. The pricing is straightforward: $100 a month for the catering module. This cost is often offset by a single order. And unlike third-party platforms, Katalyst doesn’t charge 15% to 30% in commissions.

Fast Setup, Minimal Disruption

Getting started with Katalyst is relatively simple. Once a restaurant provides its catering menu and pricing, the Katalyst team sets everything up. Orders, user accounts, lead times, and prep rules are all configured ahead of time. “You could start accepting orders as soon as tomorrow,” Dillon adds. “We’ve had restaurants go live within a few hours.” This speed is especially valuable for seasonal or event-driven businesses. A coastal restaurant, for example, can still sell gift cards or prepare for catering orders using Katalyst’s lightweight digital storefront even during off-peak seasons.

Building Recurring B2B Clients with No Extra Hardware

Katalyst isn’t only designed for one-time catering orders. It’s specifically created to help restaurants build long-term relationships with B2B clients. This includes training departments, athletic programs, medical sales teams, and more. These groups tend to place large, recurring orders and need reliable partners. Katalyst helps restaurants step confidently into that role. The system supports pre-orders, stored payment information, and even hybrid delivery setups. Whether a restaurant uses in-house drivers, third-party couriers, or a combination of both, the logistics are already built in. Roland points out that Katalyst is giving restaurants access to a different customer base than they might have otherwise engaged with. “We’re making it easier for restaurants to serve them,” he adds.

Logistics Without the Headache

Delivery can be one of the greatest challenges for restaurants offering off-premise services. Some have drivers, others don’t. Some want full control, while others prefer full outsourcing. Katalyst accommodates various delivery models, whether internal, hybrid, or fully outsourced. It integrates with services like DoorDash Drive, Uber Direct, and local courier networks. Customers receive text updates and real-time delivery tracking. When an order is headed to a business for a meeting or training session, reliability is key. “You can’t afford a late or sloppy drop-off when the customer is spending $1,000,” Roland points out. “That’s why we built delivery management into the platform.”

Inside The Four Walls: Marketing to Drive Outside Orders

Ironically, one of the ideal ways to increase off-premise revenue is by starting inside the restaurant. Katalyst helps restaurants market catering directly to their existing guests. This includes embedding catering menus on websites, creating QR codes for tables, or adding callouts to receipts. Guests who enjoy the food at lunch might be the same customers who order catering for a department meeting next week. Katalyst helps bridge that gap. “A great meal can lead to a $2,000 catering order if you make it easy for the right person to take action,” Dillon explains.

The Real Win: High-Margin Orders with Low Lift

Catering is one of the few restaurant revenue streams that can be both high-margin and operationally efficient. Unlike busy dinner rushes or brunch lines, catering orders can be prepped during slower hours and don’t require table turnover. Restaurants already have the food, staff, and space. Katalyst turns those resources into new revenue, even when the dining room is quiet. One example: a Katalyst client near Johnson & Johnson’s training center now handles regular catering orders for groups of 80 to 100 people. They store the company’s payment information and simply repeat the process every week. No new hardware. No wasted time.

A Platform Built for Growth, Not Disruption

Restaurant owners are understandably cautious about adopting new technology. Changing systems can be risky and expensive. Katalyst understands this and has built a platform that integrates smoothly or operates independently. Operators can start with catering, and then expand into digital gift cards, online ordering, loyalty programs, or even full POS conversion at their own pace. “We don’t force change. We just open the door to more revenue,” Roland concludes. For restaurant operators looking to grow without complicating their operations, Katalyst is proving to be a simple next step.

Explore how to launch catering with no new hardware at Katalyst’s official website.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about a catering solution for restaurants and does not guarantee specific results or outcomes. The content is intended for informational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and restaurants should evaluate the suitability of the platform based on their specific needs. Please consult with a qualified professional for more detailed advice on how the solution may apply to your business.